by Styles, T.
A Hustler’s Son II
Live Or Die In New York…
The Sequel To A Hustler’s Son
By T.Styles
This is a work of fiction. It is not meant to depict, portray or represent
any particular real persons. All the characters, incidents and
dialogues are the products of the author’s imagination and are not
to be constructed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons
living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008902101
ISBN: 0-9794931-5-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-9794931-5-7
Cover Design: Davida Baldwin www.oddballdsgn.com
Editor: Advance Editorial Services
Graphics: Davida Baldwin
Typesetting: Davida Baldwin
First Edition
Printed in the United States of America
Copyright © 2008 by The Cartel Publications. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission
from the author, except by reviewer who may quote passages
to be printed in a newspaper or magazine.
Dedications
This novel is dedicated Charisse Washington.
Only you really knew what I went through mentally, and physically to write this book. am eternally grateful for you.
Acknowledgments
Wow…I did it!
It’s finally here!
This novel took a lot out of me. Why? I can’t really say. Part of me believes it has everything to do with not wanting to let my fans down. And the other part of me feels it’s because this story launched my career. I wanted to give my fans who appreciated the original storyline an even better novel. With that said, I’d like to thank my loyal fans, who are my reason for writing. You guys are the best. You mean everything to me.
In the past I’ve thanked people who didn’t necessarily play a significant role in the production of my novels. With this novel, I’d like to thank those who contributed directly to me completing this story.
Charisse, thank you for always reading my creations and giving me feedback whether good or bad. You’re the one who motivated me to keep Kelsi alive. And you are the one I didn’t want to let down. I love you! From the bottom of my heart. I hope you know and can feel that.
Kajel, my son, my only child, thank you for running Cartel Café & Books, our newest investment, while I focused on this novel. You make me proud to see you in action. You were amazing at the Harlem Book Fair! Always remember to keep God first, and believe in yourself. You’re the best.
Jason Poole. Thanks for taking me away from the worries of business to enjoy life and have fun.
Eyone Williams, my author, you continuously stay upbeat despite being confined. You are a literary genius! A phenomenal writer, and an even better spirit.
Anthony Fields, I call you the author who can write a hot book on command! What can I say…your skills are not to be phucked with! I feel honored to publish your newest creation.
To K.D. Harris, my author, you’re the best sweetheart! I love your energy! And you are sick with the pen! Keep strokin’! And thanks for holding the Cartel down!
To V.J. Gotastory, my author, who has singlehandedly supported every Cartel event with a warm smile, and love! You’re the best! I don’t think the world can wait for your novel, Year Of The Crackmom! Get ‘em girl!
To CeeCee and Angel! You guys are the heart of the Cartel. Doing what you can for the business because you love us, and you’re family. Thanks for being a part of my life.
To DJ Phreakshow, the Cartel DJ, thanks for drawing in the crowds and putting the swag in my hips with your music at our store.
To Monica, my closest and oldest friend, thanks for always supporting me. You are a breath of fresh air. I smile whenever I see your face.
To Giovanna, thanks for giving us the pic to make the Pitbulls In A Skirt cover complete. And most of all, thanks for being my friend, I adore you.
To Davida, the Cartel’s graphic designer, what can I say, you’re the best love! Whatever you do comes to life! Thank you! And I know, without a doubt, that your mother is proud and honored to have a daughter like you. She’s in a better place. My soul is sure of it.
If I forgot you, hold it to my mind and not my heart.
T. Styles
President & CEO, The Cartel Publications
www.thecartelpublications.com
www.myspace.com/toystyles.com
What’s Good Fam,
First off, I gotta say thank you all so much for your continued support. Everything we do at “The Cartel” we do for each and every one of you. 2008 was our premier year, and we came out swingin’…Oh but 2009, that shit goin’ be even more fire!! We comin’ wit’ the sequels ya’ll been blowin’ my phone up for, some new shit ya’ll goin’ love annnnd we comin’ with part 2 of a classic that you ain’t goin’ even believe ‘til you read it. Trust me, The Cartel is here to stay and we ain’t goin’ no where!
Now…. A Hustler’s Son 2, I personally could not wait for this joint! I love every single book T. has penned, straight up, but I’d be bullshittin’ if I ain’t tell you that A Hustler’s Son was my favorite. That joint was it for me for several reasons, but what I loved the most was Kelsi was a thorough lil nigga!! In this joint, my man is pissed! He gotta lot of hurt and pain in his heart, so he bringin’ it straight to the bammas that caused it, or so he thinks. So cut the phone off, put the babies to bed and get ya read in. You’ll be happy that you did.
I can’t end this letter without shoutin’ out the author we honor. It is my pleasure to pay homage to none other than:
“Quentin Carter”
Not only is Quentin Carter T. Styles’ favorite author, and she will tell you that straight up if you ask, this dude is en fuego (fire)!!! I love how Quentin tells a story. If you don’t know, Quentin is the author of, “Hoodwinked”, “In Cahootz”, “Amongst Thieves”, “Stained Cotton” and “The Fink” which is a short story in the anthology, “Street Love” which T. Styles also contributed to. The Cartel loves Quentin Carter and once you crack open one his books, you’ll see why.
Thanks for lettin’ me rap to you. Go on and get ya read on. I’ma get at you next time. Don’t forget, if you in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area, come check out, Cartel Café’ & Books located at 5011 B Indian Head Highway Oxon Hill, MD. If you not in that area, don’t worry we comin’ to a city near you.
Be easy!!
Charisse “C Wash” Washington
VP, The Cartel Publications
www.thecartelpublications.com
A Hustler’s Son Recap
Chapter One
Janet Stayley is in bed masturbating when her on and off boyfriend Delonte knocks on the door. It’s 3 in the morning and she’s startled thinking somebody has died or something tragic has happened. Prior to that, she kicked Delonte out of her apartment because she caught him in the car kissing his cousin Kenosha. When Janet surrenders and opens the door, Kelsi is angry and expresses it in the way he disrespects him.
Chapter Two
Kelsi and his friend Bricks walks to school talking about how he disrespected Delonte the night before, by implying that he’d kick his ass if he steps out of line. The boys find humor in the matter and go on to talk about Kelsi’s girlfriend Lakeisha. Once at school, Kelsi gets into it with Keisha’s ex-boyfriend Charles who never got over her and hates seeing the two of them together. Kelsi clowns him in front of everybody and she leaves on his arm. Later while walking home from school he holds Kelsi at gunpoint st
rikes him and kidnaps Keisha. Kelsi goes home and solicits Bricks and his brother Melvin’s help. When they finally catch up with Charles at a mall parking lot, Keisha isn’t with him. Angered, he pistol whips Charles as Bricks and Melvin watch. When he returns home, Janet’s boyfriend Delonte is there and attempting to play the father roll when he sees the bruises on his face from fighting Charles. Kelsi jumps in his face and reminds him that he is not his son and he doesn’t respect or fear him. Kelsi challenges him and Delonte backs down. Disgusted by his weakness, Kelsi hates him even more.
Chapter Three
Janet comes home from work exhausted. Right before she enters her apartment, Charles approaches her and gives Janet a message for her son. Although the message appears harmless, Charles knows that once Kelsi finds out he approached his mother, he’d be furious. Once inside her home, she senses the tension between Delonte and Kelsi. When she tries to find out what went wrong, they argue again and she removes Kelsi from the situation by taking him into his room. In Kelsi’s room she gets a sense of how much he cares for her by looking at the pictures of her over his room. It’s clear that their bond is unbreakable.
Chapter Four
Kelsi goes to a party with Bricks at a local fire department. The entire time he’s there, Charles is on his mind. He knows the altercation they had is far from over. And…he can’t wait to get to Keisha, who’s at his house waiting on him in his room. She’s not fully alone. Delonte is there. And Kelsi forbade her to leave his room believing Delonte’s attracted to her. When he and Bricks leave the party, to drop him off home, Bricks reminds him that he has his back no matter what. Once he’s dropped off, Kelsi leaves the car and walks into the night, the moment he does, Charles approaches him.
Chapter Five
Kelsi kills Charles in self defense and dumps his body in a trash bin outside of his apartment. With blood covering his body, he enters the apartment and is enraged when he sees Keisha on the couch talking to Delonte. He sends her to his room and threatens Delonte again. As usual, Delonte backs off and Kelsi and Keisha enter his room. He chastises her for not listening but lightens his mood when he senses her worry about him. Although Keisha wants to know what happened to Kelsi since he’s covered in blood, he doesn’t confide in her about the murder. Angry at Kelsi’s continuous disrespect, Delonte calls Janet at work saying Kelsi came home covered in blood. And when she asks to speak to Kelsi, he refuses to come to the phone. He wants Delonte to know he’s not moved by him calling his mother. Instead, he lies in the bed with Keisha and has sex with her.
Chapter Six
Janet comes home in a cab frustrated that Kelsi didn’t come to the phone after she requested to speak to him. She can’t understand why he and Delonte can’t get along. She puts Keisha out of Kelsi’s room and tells her to go into hers and wait for him. Then she gives Kelsi a piece of her mind with a bat in hand. She tells Kelsi how she wasn’t as soft as he thought she was. Janet tells him that she was raped by her father and her brothers before fleeing. Later she got involved with a girl gang called the Monopoly Honeys. She went in to detail about how she met his father, Lorenzo, and how she slept with him with her best friend Shelly at the same time because Lorenzo wanted to see how down she really was for him. And, that Kelsi and Lorenzo Jr., Shelly’s son, were conceived at the same time. Janet told Kelsi how Lorenzo beat Shelly so badly while pregnant, her son, Lorenzo came out retarded. Later Lorenzo chose Shelly and because of this, she and Shelly grew apart. Just when Kelsi thought he couldn’t hear anymore, Janet explained how she moved to New York and met up with a man who tried to kill her. His name was never given. In the end Janet told Kelsi if he ever disrespected her again, she’d kill him. Kelsi visibly shaken, dropped his own bomb by telling her he killed someone earlier that night. Devastated, Janet told Kelsi no matter what, she was there for him. Even if it meant helping him cover up the murder. Their bond in crime is formed.
Chapter Seven
Learning her only son was a murderer weighed heavily on Janet. When she wakes up from a deep sleep she hears Delonte talking to someone on the phone. He made comments about Janet pacifying Kelsi too much. He went on to say he was going to find out something and Janet had a feeling it had to do with the murder of Charles. This enrages her and she makes a promise to do whatever she has to protect him. Even if it means killing Delonte.
Chapter Eight
Kelsi has a lot on his mind after hearing everything his mother said to him the night before. Her being raped and almost killed was a lot for him to take all at once. While walking Keisha to the bus stop, she yaps over and over again about nothing. Kelsi chokes Keisha up because her talking prevents him from thinking straight. With killing Charles and hearing about his mother’s past, he wasn’t in his right state of mind. When he realizes he could possibly kill her, he releases the hold he has on her throat. He warns her about being with him, but she stays true accepting his abuse. Still, he doesn’t trust himself around her.
Chapter Nine
When Janet comes home for work, she tells Kelsi that they must kill Delonte. She’s worried if they don’t, he’ll tell someone about Kelsi murdering Charles. Although she doesn’t believe Delonte’s knows the facts, she doesn’t want to take the chance. Kelsi thinks his mother is crazy and wants to make sure he’s not a suspect in the first murder before committing another one. In the end, he refuses.
Chapter Ten
Kelsi is in class thinking about his mother’s request to kill Delonte. When he learns over the school intercom that Charles body has been found he becomes nervous. The teacher refuses to let him leave the room after he requests. When Kelsi disrespects the teacher, he leaves anyway and hooks up with Keisha. They leave school early and walk home together. Before stopping home, he calls Skully, his drug connect, from a convenience store payphone. Kelsi tells him that someone was murdered in the area Kelsi sells drugs in and that things may be too hot to pump. His connect demands he stays low key until things cool off. Kelsi obeys gets off the phone and goes home. With Keisha on his arm, they run into Kenosha, Delonte’s sexy cousin. He sends Keisha upstairs to talk to Kenosha alone. Keisha is angry but obeys not wanting to upset Kelsi again after getting on his nerves the day before. Kenosha offers Kelsi up sexually and he flirts but declines. Once he goes inside his apartment, Keisha hands him a card and runs into the house. She’s upset. Kelsi’s afraid after looking at the card knowing Keisha, in her naïve state, said too much.
Chapter Eleven
Janet walks in and overhears Kelsi and Keisha’s conversation. Keisha tells Kelsi that she told the police that he had a fight with Charles before he was murdered. Janet enters Kelsi’s room and sends Keisha home so that she can talk to Kelsi alone. She’s angered that Keisha is so stupid and that her son’s freedom may now be at risk.
Chapter Twelve
Kelsi walks to school with Bricks the next day and tells him about Keisha’s slip up with the police. Bricks attempts to comfort him by saying that as long as she didn’t say anything specific, he should be okay. Kelsi is still uneasy. Once at school, Kelsi notices Delonte’s truck. Delonte tells him to get inside and blackmails him. Delonte goes into detail about how Skully cut him off and now he’s no longer able to service his customers in the Woods, the same complex Kelsi hustles and lives in. Now, he wants Kelsi to sell drugs for him in Skully’s neighborhood. If Kelsi doesn’t, he threatens to tell the police the little he knows about him coming home the day Charles was murdered, covered in blood. Kelsi refuses believing he doesn’t have enough proof to cause him any harm. Until Charles reveals he has the blood stained shirt he wore the night of the murder. Angered and defeated, Kelsi realizes his mother was right all along. And he agrees murdering Delonte will be best for them all.
Chapter Thirteen
Janet was ending a private conversation when Delonte walked in on her. Although he didn’t hear the entire conversation, he had a feeling it was about him. When he asked Janet what the call was about, she brushed him off. Angry, he had sex with
her at gunpoint. What scared him was that Janet enjoyed it. In her mind she was giving herself as a dead man’s final wish. Kelsi was at the door and watched their entire sexual encounter.
Chapter Fourteen
Janet and Delonte carry out their plans to kill Delonte. Afterwards, they dump his body in a park. With the night as their only witness, they pledge their lives together. And above all, they vow to keep each other’s secret.
Chapter Fifteen
Kelsi goes to Delonte’s house with Kenosha and has to endure seeing the pain in Delonte’s mother’s face. Delonte’s mother was certain something terrible happened to him since he hadn’t been home. Kenosha appears to be visibly shaken by Delonte’s death too. Eventually Mrs. Knight leaves Kelsi and Kenosha, who is staying with them from time to time, alone. Kelsi is there to get any money or drugs he may have had stashed since he knew Delonte was never coming back. In the process of roaming in his room, he finds nothing. He knew someone beat him to it. But who? Kenosha walked up on him during his search. He played it off like he went upstairs in the hopes she’d follow him, so they could have sex. And they did, raw.